Définitions et conséquences des troubles de santé mentale : Une analyse qualitative des représentations des migrants et migrantes de l’Afrique subsaharienne à Winnipeg.

This study aimed at exploring the way sub-Saharan African immigrants and refugees define mental illness as well as the consequences they associate with these illnesses. A total of 50 participants took part in an individual interview. Whereas some participants define mental illness in terms of madness and insanity which were associated with behavioural and cognitive dysfunctions, others adhere to a broader conception that encompasses affective and relational disorders. In turn, mental illness can jeopardize the affected individual’s life projects, health, and physical safety and can have repercussions on his or her relationships as well as on the rest of society. Implications for health professionals are discussed.